What's the Plan For Long-Vacant Kodak Plant?

Ground was broken for renovations at a long-vacant site on St. Paul Street. The former Eastman Kodak Company Hawkeye Plant has sat dormant for about seven years.

Queens-based WBS Capital Incorporated plans to drop about $55 million to make the former manufacturing site into mixed use property including offices, warehouse and affordable housing.

There's plenty of space at more than 750,000 square feet on a dozen acres.

"It's qualified for foreign trade zone and the idea is bringing oversea, international business here, like e-commerce," says Tianyi Du, general manager. "We'll use it as storage for them and bring some international business here."

The plan is to get started right away.

Work will be done in phases across the different buildings at the site with an eye toward finishing by 20-20.